How to stop a dog from wallowing in excrement and rotten meat and why does it do this?

Very often, novice dog breeders are perplexed by the fact that their dogs are lying around in rotten meat. When a dog appeared in our house, we also had to deal with a phenomenon that was strange for us at that time. Next I will tell you how it happened.

It so happened that my friends and I almost simultaneously acquired small tailed tomboys of the Jack Russell Terrier breed. Here they are. On the left is our Jack, smiling, and on the right, his childhood friend Veter is sniffing a flower.

One day, when our little critters were already about 6 months old, we were all walking together in the yard of the house. At some point, literally for a few seconds, the Wind disappeared from our field of vision.

The picture of his appearance was impressive: covered from head to toe in some kind of muck, a dead crow in his teeth, and an incredible trail of “perfume” from this entire artistic “composition.” And most importantly - a contented and cunning face with a smile to the very tips of Russell's ears.

We stood in shock for a couple of seconds. Then, of course, they tried to catch him in order to completely “throw him into the washing machine.” But this “arrogant red face” so deftly climbed under a car standing nearby and, in addition, as it seemed to him, to add to his fashionable “outfit”, began to eat this bird. We only managed to drive him out from under the car with a stick.

My Ju stood calmly and indifferently watched what was happening. And I thought: what a neat little Jackusik I have, a good and obedient boy. I didn’t become like a friend and didn’t bother with this rotten stuff.

But that was not the case. Literally the very next day my shilopop did almost the same thing, finding a huge pile of shit under a tree!

After this, I began to wonder why dogs roll around in rotten meat? What is the reason for this phenomenon and how to wean your pet from this habit. After all, very often dogs like to sleep in the same bed with their owner, and you must admit, it will not be at all pleasant if at the same time a nasty smell emanates from the pet. In addition, garbage and rotten meat contain a lot of bacteria.

Rolling around in stinking muck is a way to convey information to relatives

This is another version. According to her, wolves, for example, roll around in odorous substances to tell their relatives where they have been. And Erich Klinghammer, the creator of the Wolf Park, suggests that wallowing in the muck is a message to other members of the pack: “there is so much delicious stuff out there!”

For example, scientists have observed how wolves, having discovered large prey, not only eat it, but also rub, roll around, etc. And, perhaps, they let their friends know that there is something to profit from where they came from.

Hyenas also swing in the carrion - after this, their relatives show them active signs of attention.

Strong smell - something like a “uniform”

There is another version.

A study of Canadian wolves showed that when a pack finds a strong-smelling area, the leader rides first, and then the rest follow suit. It's as if the leader determines how all members of the pack will smell.

Similar behavior is observed not only in wolves, but also in coyotes and foxes.

Female wild dogs roll on the ground where the males' marks remain if they want to join them.

And dogs sometimes rub against each other.

Is it possible to wean

The problem cannot be completely eliminated, but the pet’s behavior can be corrected.

When walking your hunting dog, avoid landfills and trash. Find yourself an open area, away from houses, otherwise the natural instinct of the hunter will win, and you will bring home a stinker. If this is not possible, walk your dog strictly on a leash.
If during a walk your dog regularly looks for mud, puddles, or simply rolls around in the grass and on the ground, change your animal care products. Choose an unscented shampoo so as not to irritate your pet's sense of smell.
If your dog begins to shed, comb the fur thoroughly so that the animal has no reason to take care of its own hygiene. Also regularly treat for parasites.
If wallowing in excrement is simply a bad habit, try to switch the animal to more useful activities. More physical activity, joint games, training - all this will help distract the dog from pointless running around and searching for dirt. In the same way, you can relieve your animal of stress.

Mark or misdemeanor

To solve the problem, the owner needs to determine: the dog is still making marks or is simply relieving itself. The latter is more likely if the pet's walking schedule is disrupted.

Other states

A puddle of dog urine on the floor is not always considered a mark. In most cases, this is due to bladder disease or the age of the pet.

Puppies

Before the age of six months, dogs do not always have bladder control. The muscles of the organ are still relaxed and contract involuntarily.

Pathologies

Bladder diseases (cystitis, incontinence, diabetes, stress) provoke uncontrolled urination.

In this case, the dog is not punished; it is important to understand the causes of the pathology in time

Abstinence

The busyness of the owners often leads to the fact that the pet's walking schedule is disrupted, shifting by 1-2 hours. Prolonged abstinence leads to involuntary urination. The dog is unable to endure more than the allotted time and relieves itself in the apartment.

Or maybe animals rub against someone else's scent to leave their own?

Max Allen's version is not shared by another scientist, the British Stephen Harris (University of Bristol). He is convinced that the animal’s goal is not to collect other people’s smells, but to spread its own. And an unfamiliar scent simply stimulates dogs to rub against the same places in order to leave their own marks there.

However, when dogs roll around in “smelly places,” they rarely limit themselves to leaving their scent. They fall out so much that your whole body smells! So this version also does not look completely convincing. In any case, it does not explain all cases.

Is there a negative side to gluing?

Immediately after disengagement, the couple loses interest in each other and falls into a state of apathy. The male is soon ready for a new feat. The female needs more time to recuperate.

The physiological process of mating in dogs is the result of evolution. It increases the efficiency of procreation and does not cause inconvenience or pain to animals. One thing that can be negative is when bonding occurs due to fear. The female may be very young, inexperienced or stressed. She is unable to control her body. It can cling with such force that spasms around the vaginal muscles cause severe pain. Psychological trauma remains for life.

Dogs mating during intercourse when they stand in the castle for a long time is a normal phenomenon. This moment is provided by nature to guarantee the fertilization of the female and the conception of puppies. You cannot worry or separate the animals.

How to get rid of this habit?

In order to get rid of this problem, you need to know a few rules.

If the dog is a hunting dog or simply prone to such actions, it is best to avoid garbage cans, landfills, etc. You can wean it off using negative and positive reinforcement. It must be remembered that it will be difficult to completely get rid of the habit, since the reason lies in hunting instincts.
Change your dog's cosmetics. The smell should not be too strong. Dogs smell scents much more strongly than humans, so strong, unnatural odors can irritate them.
The animal's energy must be channeled into other activities. Hunting dogs can be switched to physical activity, providing them with a sufficient amount of sports and mental training (training).
In case of shedding, careful grooming and combing will help.

With a little effort, you can easily get rid of this unpleasant habit!

Start with yourself

Pets perfectly “feel” their owners, their emotions and experiences. The natural purpose of a four-legged animal is to make its owner happy. You may not believe it, but the howl and barking of the ward is a tool for maintaining the owner’s comfort. You cannot stop a dog from howling in the absence of its owners; you yourself experience discomfort when leaving your home. Thus, you give your ward a reason to think that he must protect you from the outside world... he cannot do this and is “hysterical” from hopelessness and excitement. For example, if getting ready for work takes a long time or you check several times whether the iron is turned off. Signs that your pet is trying to keep you comfortable:

The dog tries to run out the front door in front of you.

The dog grabs your clothes or bag in an attempt to prevent you from leaving.

When you go out the door, listen - if you immediately start barking and howling, your pet is rushing around the apartment, trying to sniff the air in the gap between the door and the wall - he is clearly worried about you, and not for himself.

The dog whines in the absence of its owners

There is nothing worse when a dog howls or whines under the doors, throws tantrums when he is left alone at home. The problem needs to be solved gradually.

To begin with, you can teach him to lock the dog in one of the rooms. Close the door and don't pay attention if he scratches the door or whines. After a while, open the door, scold your pet and give the forbidden command in a stern tone. You can lightly lift your pet by the scruff of the neck and slap him on the rump with a newspaper.

Once the dog calms down, praise him. Don't constantly run to your dog when he starts to tantrum and don't teach him to reward him with treats. The dog will quickly understand that whining is an effective means of attracting attention and getting treats. Repeat the exercise several times a day, increasing the time amplitude until you achieve results. If the dog starts whining as soon as you leave the house, come back and scold the dog. Give the command “Get in place!” and take him to the litter.

Do the same when leaving home. So that the dog doesn't get bored:

Leave a bone, toys, teeth sharpeners.
Before leaving, organize a long active walk and engage in training.
Feed before leaving. A tired and well-fed dog will sleep and rest when you leave home.
When leaving the dog alone, give the command “Place”. As soon as your pet goes to his bed, reward him.

Bites

All dogs can do this. But if they directly attack people or children, then this is already a problem. There are several reasons for this:

Little age. Since childhood, puppies, while playing, bite each other and their toys. Since he considers the owner a member of his pack, he will grab you with his teeth. Stop it from the start and don't let him play with your hands or feet.
Bad manners. The main reason for an animal’s aggression is that they did not educate and train it or made mistakes. Remember that he is not a toy and you are responsible for him.
Natural predisposition. Some dog breeds are naturally aggressive. Therefore, they require careful training or even consultation with a dog handler. In addition to hunting and service breeds, puppies born in enclosures are predisposed to this.

Dogs don't just bite. This requires serious reasons. She reacts this way to how she is treated, so we need to take retraining very seriously. Gradually, you need to restore trust in a person. But a puppy and an adult dog must be trained in their own way.

If a puppy bites

It is easier to raise a puppy than a “seasoned” dog. As children, they are all active and have rapidly changing moods. The main thing is that this does not carry over into adulthood. Therefore, use these tips:

Distract yourself with a game. They are like children, so they need to have a lot of toys. If he tries to bite you, give him a ball. Over time, he will remember that you can only bite him and there will be no more problems. Punish. You cannot punish a puppy until 3 months old. And then don’t spank him with your hand, take a newspaper for this. Use the commands "ugh!" and “you can’t!” with a light punishment if your pet tries to bite you. Very soon he will remember and won’t do it again. Ignore

If your pet starts biting during play, immediately stop paying attention to him and go to another room. He must understand: after a bite, the game stops. Educate and train

The puppy must show its instincts, but not to the detriment of the owner. Teach him to always be calm, taking into account the breed of your pet. He must know his place. If you tried to “cheat”, send him there.

Reward your dog for obedience with some kind of treat. Immediately try to subjugate him. This will not harm your friendly relationship. Become an authority for him. And gradually the puppy will grow into an obedient dog.

If an adult dog bites

Many owners of four-legged pets simply forget about training. When a dog grows up, it turns out that it bites. And this can happen during a carefree game. Therefore, avoid repeating the situation that led to the conflict. Let him know that you are unpleasant and hurt. Dogs love their owners and their family members very much, so they will correct themselves very quickly.

Love and patience will help correct any “flaw” of your four-legged pet. Remember that it is better to tame and train a puppy than an adult dog. This is man's closest friend - understanding and loving us. As a last resort, do not be afraid to contact specialists - dog handlers and veterinarians.

Features of a dog's sense of smell

A dog, lying in dead meat, wants to confirm its individuality

A dog's sense of smell differs from the human sense of smell in the subtlety and peculiarity of the perception of odors. What causes a gag reflex in people is better than French perfume for pets. Trying to rid the dog of its natural scent, owners use pet cosmetics with what they consider to be a pleasant smell. True, dogs do not always perceive this with understanding and take measures to smell fragrant as they see fit.

Facts about the instinct of self-preservation

Why do dogs wallow in rotten meat? As mentioned earlier, this question has worried people since ancient times. Previously, zoologists associated this reaction with the instinct of self-preservation. Each dog is an absolutely individual creature, with its own habits, characteristics and body structure. They, just like humans, have their own smell, by which other individuals recognize them. An adult dog knows perfectly well that other dogs can “track” him. Accordingly, he will wallow in slop, dirt and puddles in order to lead the enemy astray and mask his smell. It is worth noting that this turns out quite successfully!

Why do dogs wallow in rotten meat?

But that was not the case. Literally the very next day my shilopop did almost the same thing, finding a huge pile of shit under a tree!

Should I intervene?

Not all breeders know what to do in a dog breeding situation. Should animals be posted? Dog handlers and veterinarians say a categorical “no.” Experienced breeders continue to observe and control the process.

Even if the knot in dogs does not weaken for more than half an hour, you cannot apply physical force to the couple. You need to help the female if she breaks out of the “lock”. The zealous “bride” is calmed down. Sometimes the loin is held to direct the flow of sperm to the uterus. This is necessary when the female is smaller than her lover. They also help a male dog if he is unable to stand with his back to his partner after ejaculation. The dogs are not allowed to twitch.

Important! Animals are not forcibly separated, even if mating is not planned. This is fraught with injury and loss of animal health

Young ladies get scared, the spasm can intensify to unbearable pain. In the future, they are afraid of partners and intercourse. Sexual intercourse can take even longer.

During intercourse, owners create a calm environment for the dogs. Before mating, the female is fed moderately; it is better not to feed the male at all. The couple is given the opportunity to walk around and run around. The process is best done in the evening or early in the morning. The male feels more confident in his own territory, so the “brides” are brought to his home. It is better if the sacrament of conception occurs in silence. They watch him from the side, not trying to separate the couple.

The first mating is often carried out with a muzzle.

The first mating of a young bitch is especially important. She can be aggressive. Often the act is carried out wearing muzzles. The suitable age for dogs is 2-2.5 years. Matings earlier than this period lead to unhealthy litters, and the physical condition of the parents is also at risk. Bitches are bred after the third heat.

The best time for pets to crossbreed is late autumn and winter. Puppies are born healthier. The hormonal surge during early mating slows down the growth of dogs. The timing of puberty is individual and depends on the size of the individual, breed, and psychological state.

Important! If mating does not occur during intercourse, after 2-3 days a repeat control mating is carried out while the bitch is in heat.

Reasons for this behavior

Before you start fighting this “bad habit,” you need to find out the possible reasons why dogs sometimes like to roll around in carrion and excrement.

Ancient instinct

The dog is a predator. Our four-legged creatures inherited the habit of rolling around in animal remains, garbage, or something very smelly from their ancient ancestors - wolves.

In order for the hunt to be successful, to get as close as possible to the prey without the prey sensing danger, wolves need to cover up their own scent with something more pungent and smelly. And for this purpose, like nothing else in the wild, the natural odors of foliage, grass, dead meat or feces of other animals are most suitable, and not the aroma of delicious shampoo that gives away a hunter.

When the prey does not sense the predator, it is easier to catch it. That is why this instinct is especially pronounced in dogs of hunting breeds.

Desire to get rid of unpleasant odor

Very often, dogs roll around in rotten meat if they want to get rid of an unpleasant odor. And it is not at all necessary that this smell is stinky and disgusting. It could even be a simple change of shampoo.

It is not a fact that your pet will like the aroma that is pleasant to you. If the smell of shampoo or conditioner is too strong, the animal will try in every possible way to get rid of it. After all, dogs don’t really like all artificial scents, and a four-legged nose perceives them hundreds of times more acutely than ours.

How to eliminate bad odor from mouth

The dog’s mouth stinks, what needs to be done: the best option is a full diagnostic examination and therapy. Some owners of four-legged animals prefer to get rid of the stench using alternative medicine methods.

Changing teeth

Traditional methods for eliminating unpleasant odors

The smell of rot can be suppressed with the help of plants:

Chopped parsley leaves can be added to your pet's daily food or given as whole leaves of the plant. Many animals enjoy chewing grass, and its juices completely neutralize bad odors.
Parsley rinse - the leaves are added to boiling water, infused and filtered. After cooling, it is used for its intended purpose.

Important! Parsley is not harmful to health and is a safe medicinal plant.

At the veterinary clinic

In advanced cases, when the smell of rotten meat cannot be stopped on your own, a consultation with a veterinarian is necessary. The specialist will conduct a full examination and prescribe symptomatic therapy. Cleaning of molars, canines and incisors is carried out using ultrasound - it does not cause pain and can be performed under sedation or anesthesia.

Important! If there are any pathologies, your pet will be prescribed medications.

Opinion of zoopsychologists

Animal psychologists have recently expressed their opinions about this behavior in pets. They suggested that dogs use carrion and feces to emphasize their individual nature. In comparison with people, this is explained much better. Everyone has their favorite scents, but the scents pets prefer don't always match people's preferences. Just as owners use perfume to stand out, dogs smear themselves in rotten meat to have their own unique scent.

Even the smell of fresh fish can lure your pet

Thus, it was explained why the dog rolls around in excrement, cow dung, rotten and fresh fish and carrion. It is almost impossible to wean an animal from such habits, but you can limit its actions and monitor the dog.

Psychological condition

Veterinarians managed to find out another reason why dogs roll around in rotten meat. In their opinion, they only do this during periods when they are in a state of deep stress. Thus, they try to “bury themselves” from various problems. For example, this happens during periods of illness, when the dog experiences separation from its owner or another individual. In addition, symptoms such as worse sleep, worse appetite, and decreased activity may occur.

What to do in such a situation? It is recommended to show extra attention to your pet! Try to pet him more, play and go for walks. Perhaps the animal has a favorite treat, for example, a crispy bone, why not please your beloved dog with such a gift?

Dogs may try to mark their territory

It is well known that schooling and territorial animals mark their territory by urinating on it. This scent allows other rival groups to avoid a given area if they do not want to fight for it.

A wild dog or wolf rolling in food (or other animal matter) may be trying to cover up the scent of another animal, or deliberately leaving its own scent behind as a warning.

Again, this is not the clearest explanation for why domestic dogs exhibit this behavior, but it does at least provide some evolutionary clues.

A dog rolls on its back while playing - instincts

In dog games, there are always roles played by the wards. As a rule, one of the players is alpha, and the second is subordinate. Dogs can change places several times in a short period of time, this allows the wards to strengthen loyalty when communicating with their brothers.

The subordinate falls on his back and rolls around, showing trust and lack of aggression. By the way, even in a serious, conflict situation, smarter and cunning dogs fall on their backs, which avoids a fight. After the opponent has relaxed, the sly one who has just surrendered can suddenly attack, but that, as they say, is a completely different story.

Precautionary measures

Your dog's eyes are watering: why and what to do

To prevent wallowing in rotten meat, you should follow some rules:

The dog must always be on a short leash. She will not be able to go wherever she wants and do whatever she wants;
It is not advisable to walk near trash cans, landfills and other areas with a high content of rotten matter on the ground;
It is worth regularly treating your pet's fur for fleas and ticks.

For your information! If wild dogs are released into a reserve, they regularly begin to fall out in carrion and excrement. Strangely, workers do not identify this with a defensive reaction or the beginning of a hunt.

What other versions are there?

And this is not all hypotheses!

Veterinarian and animal behaviorist Stanley Koren believes that dogs try to stand out with such behavior. Like people wearing bright clothes.

Muriel Brasseur, a spokesman for the Center for the Study of Animal Behavior in Oxford, believes that wallowing in muck gives dogs a strong rush of dopamine, the “satisfaction hormone.” So not only are they echoes of survival behavior, but... just plain fun!

However, this does not make it any easier for dog owners. But, since we have fallen in love with dogs, we must continue to love them even when they are dirty. And smelly. Wash and love. Such is the fate of a dog owner.

Methods of punishment

Confused owners rush to two extremes. The first is brutal swearing and beatings. You scold, shout, beat the animal. It is logical that this will not be successful. The second is patiently waiting for change. They have no sense of shame. They look guilty and press their ears back, which means: “I’m kind, don’t touch me.”

Find the answer Are you bothered by some problem or question? Enter “Breed” or “Name of the problem” into the form, press Enter and you will find out everything about the issue that interests you.

They are empathic and read emotions in a human way. So use your emotions. A stern voice works 99% of the time. However, he is also affectionate.

Poking your muzzle into a puddle or pile will disrupt psychological contact. He will look guilty, but will not stop peeing in the far corner of the apartment. The owner will find the “toilet” by smell, but it’s too late.

Why do dogs like to roll in feces and carrion?